Gail Ann Schneider

Gail Ann Schneider (Dontje), age 70, was called home on Saturday, April 2, 2022 to be with her husband Rodney Carl Schneider, Jr., who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Phyllis Dontje and her parents-in-law Rodney and Betty Lou Schneider. She is survived by her loving children, Todd (Janel), Barbara (Jason), Martin (Megan), and Jillian (Mark); two sisters Diane (John) and Kathy; and was also close with her husband’s siblings Marta (Danny), Rhys (Mary), Brian (Chrissy), Joseph (Monica), and Stephen (Laura). She absolutely loved her role as a grandmother to Ella, Alyssa, A.J., Preston, Jonathon, Asher, Noah, and Laney, and she will be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren as “GrandMomma” and “Amma.”

Gail was born in Kalamazoo, MI, but her parents moved the family to Colorado when she was young. She would go on to describe herself as a “Colorado girl.” She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1970. In high school, she was involved in Speech, was a reporter for the school newspaper, wrote for the yearbook, was the business manager for yearbook, and was on the honor roll in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. She once described herself as a “flower child,” but was careful to never put herself in danger of legal trouble. She also went on to take some business classes at Metro State College.

Gail was a devout Catholic with a particular affinity for Mary. She prayed the Hail Mary as a meditative, calming mantra which helped her through many difficult times, including childbirth. She was a gifted lecturer, proclaiming God’s word at many masses over the years with her passion showing through. She also served the church as a Eucharistic Minister, helped with children’s programs, and helped with the youth group when her kids were teens. She graduated from the Catholic Biblical School in 1999 after much hard work and dedication. During this course of study, she deepened her connection to the Bible and it took on a new meaning to her.

Professionally speaking, she began as a tax professional in 1985 and would go on to become a Master Tax Advisor and delighted in the problem solving aspect of her work. She also used her passion for taxes and teaching, and was an instructor to other tax professionals since the late 1980s. She was a people-person and used her tax appointments with clients to get to know their personal stories and remembered them year-to-year. She was also eager to learn anything she could from those around her, even if they were students or clients.

Gail was very creative and talented. She enjoyed making a variety of crafts- sewing, decorative painting, gardening, and baking. Decorating cookies at Christmas is one tradition her children will continue on in her memory yearly. She was a fervent reader, and shared her joy of reading with her children and grandchildren. Many summer afternoons were spent on the porch reading as a family. She loved dancing at family events or weddings, she loved playing family games, such as Mexican Train, Pictionary, Scrabble, Cribbage, Sudoku, word searches, crossword puzzles, and completing jigsaw puzzles. Gail was playful, with a quick wit and although she denied it, just as sarcastic as the rest of us. She also loved watching old black and white movies and enjoyed the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Raising a family was paramount to Gail, and she poured all her love and time into her kids, helping with numerous scouting events for all four children and involved herself in school activities and fundraisers. She and Rodney planned out yearly trips to the family cabin in Grand Lake, where many, many happy memories were made: fishing, swimming, canoeing, and going into town. She loved going to National Parks, and many road trips were taken during summers all across the country. No trip was complete without Fleetwood Mac playing and a spilled cup of coffee. She always made sure we all had a fresh book to read for the trip.

She will be forever missed by her family, particularly her children and grandchildren. When we make silly jokes, visit Yellowstone, take a hike in the mountains, enjoy a rainstorm, delight in a beautiful sunset, or bake a batch of cookies, she will be with us. When we go through rough times, we will let it roll off our backs like a duck, just like you always taught us.

A Rosary Service will be held at 7pm on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Horan & McConaty Funeral Service, 3101 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood CO. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2pm on April 8, 2022 at St. Francis Cabrini Parish, 6673 W Chatfield Ave, Littleton, CO with a reception to follow at Horan and McConaty.

In lieu of flowers please contribute in her name to the St Jude Children's Research Hospital http://giftfunds.stjude.org/gailschneider .

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